Public Law 111-216 deals with new regulations which may directly affect young pilots aspiring to fly for any 121 carrier, as well as a few other regulations such as duty time and rule making procedures, as well as others.
Currently, First Officers on Part 121 Air Carriers are not required to hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. This may be a read flag to the general flying public, but this is good for new pilots. This means that newly appointed Commercial Pilots can build enough time to meet the requirements of a specific carrier, apply, and hopefully get accepted. With the new regulations that PL 111-216 states, First Officers on Part 121 Air Carriers will indeed need to hold an ATP certificate. Although the REGS do not specifically mention anything on second in command requirements, they clearly state that no person may act as pilot in command unless he or she holds an ATP certificate.
So, what does this mean for aspiring pilots who want to work for a 121 operation? Well, this leaves few options. One could be that you become a CFI and instruct until you reach 1500 hours. Don't like that route? Well, you could find yourself a job working for smaller companies hauling cargo at strange hours of the night. Don't like that either? Well another option could be to purchase your own aircraft and fly around until you reach 1500 hours. But really, is that a realistic approach? Not for most.
But their is hope! PL 111-216 states that individuals that come from the military with flight training or those who come from a collegiate aviation program will have reduced minimums to receive an ATP certificate in order to be hired at a more reasonable amount of hours. According to AOPA, the new Public Law will allow military pilots a 750 hour ATP time requirement and college graduates from certain programs a 1000 hour ATP time requirement at a reduced age of 21. Although the Public Law is not specific in the requirement, it does however have a set of guidelines to be follow. The law states that a team of representatives from across the aviation industry will set guidelines on flight hours required, recurring training requirement, training courses which can be credited towards flight hours and so on.
What does this mean to me? Well, this new law could really go either way. Even though many students hope to fly for a regional or major fresh out of college and fight training, that is a relatively rare occurrence. Most young pilots end up flight instructing, banner towing or something a long those lines first. I personally am not too worried, as in I plan on flight instructing for a little while before I venture into a more advanced flying career.
The current SIC requirements fall under paragraph (b) of the linked document: "At least a commercial pilot certificate with appropriate category and class ratings for the aircraft concerned, and an instrument rating." You are correct though it doesn't actually say SIC anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI believe the wording in the public law stated that flight crew members of a part 121 operation would need an ATP certificate. This would probably include second in command.
ReplyDeleteI think your lack of worry is refreshing...and your plan to flight instruct a little longer is a good one. However, remember that everyone else will be flight instructing "a little longer" also. So what will you do while you are waiting for those positions to open up?
ReplyDeleteSo which would be the best route even though we have limited choices as pilots? Another job or flight instructing? By having another job, we will still be able to log hours while getting paid to do so which is great (even though the pay will be limited). But on the other hand, flight instructing is the best way to really learn how to fly. I have heard from almost every instructor that you really don't learn how to fly until you flight instruct! So would this route make Part 121 pilots more "capable" or "experienced?"
ReplyDeleteI agree that you don't really learn until you start instructing but does flying a C-172 around for 1000 hours make you a better more capable pilot in flying a CRJ (or something like that).
ReplyDeleteAlthough some pilots will be forced to be an instructor for a bit longer, or do something else for a bit longer, is this really making better pilots at the airline level? I feel that it will make some pilots get too comfortable at the CFI level or somewhere else and they will not want to move up to the airlines, or they will start losing interest in what they are doing and could possibly start making more mistakes.
ReplyDeleteI agree that once you find a company that accepts you and you're forced to stick with them until your hours are complete many pilots may have become too comfortable. Maybe settled down with someone and have become accustomed to that specific lifestyle and no longer see their dream job very realistic anymore.
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